Voters reject Michigan wolf hunting laws; opponents vow to sue

Michigan's gray wolves were removed from the federal endangered species list in 2009.

In largely symbolic referendums, Michigan voters have rejected two state laws that allow hunting of gray wolves. Now wolf hunt opponents vow to sue state legislators over the issue.

One measure removed the wolf from the state endangered list and classified it as a game species. The other empowered the appointed Natural Resources Commission to decide whether wolves should be hunted.

The outcome of Tuesday's election voids both laws. But the Legislature passed yet another pro-hunting bill this summer that will remain in effect.

Opponents say trophy hunting of wolves is inappropriate and the predator is still fragile after all but disappearing from Michigan in the last century.

Supporters say it's a necessary step to prevent conflicts with humans in some parts of the Upper Peninsula, where the wolf population is estimated at 636.

Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, financially supported by the Humane Society of the United States, spent $2 million supporting the inclusion of the ballot proposals and plans to file a lawsuit in the near future.

​Jill Fritz, director of the group, said suing state legislators "is our intent — especially now that the voters have made it clear that they don't want the trophy hunting of wolves, they don’t want more legislative tricks, and they don’t want to cede authority to an unelected group of political appointees."

However, it's open to an agreement with lawmakers.

"But regardless of the outcome of that lawsuit, we hope that the NRC will honor the judgment rendered (Tuesday) by voters when that legislation goes into effect in 2015," Fritz said.